Ohio State beats Michigan, 30-27, in double overtime, but Big 10 East Title goes to Penn State

Curtis Samuel swept in for a 15-yard touchdown after Ohio State barely converted a fourth-and-one play, and the second-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 3 Michigan, 30-27, in double overtime Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, to win one of the greatest games in the history of one of college football's greatest rivalries.

Facing fourth and one from the 16, Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer decided not to kick a potential game-tying field goal with a kicker who had already missed two short ones in regulation.

J.T. Barrett kept it on fourth down and slammed into the back of his blocker, A.J. Alexader, right at the line to gain. The first-down call stood up to video review.

“That was not a first down,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I'm bitterly disappointed with the officiating today.”

On the next play, Samuel, who had made a swerving, change-of-direction run to set up the fourth-and-one play, found a lane and raced into the end zone to win it.

The scarlet-clad crowd soon covered the field. The first game to go to overtime in the 113-game history of the rivalry likely eliminated Michigan from the playoff race and could have locked up a spot for the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 in Big Ten Conference) won't be playing for the Big Ten title, however, because Penn State beat Michigan State 45-12. With the win, Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 7 CFP) edged No. 2 Ohio State for the East title, setting up a conference championship game against West winner Wisconsin next week in Indianapolis. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State 24-20 at home Oct. 22.

Michigan (10-2, 7-2) could end up in the Rose Bowl, but the biggest prizes are still eluding the Wolverines in their second year under coach Jim Harbaugh, who dropped to 0-2 against Meyer and the Buckeyes. Michigan has not won the Big Ten since 2004.

There are few rivalries in American sports bigger than Michigan against Ohio State. However, it has been 10 years since "the game" has been as big as this. Back in 2006, the two rivals played in what was called the "game of the century" when, for the first time, Michigan and Ohio State both entered the game undefeated. That day, No. 1-ranked Ohio State edged No. 2-ranked Michigan 42-39.

On Saturday, both teams will enter The Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) with one loss each, with the Wolverines ranked No. 3 and the Buckeyes are No. 2. Could we see another "game of the century?"

It was supposed to be simple. Before the college football season started, Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State were all ranked in the top twelve. The three teams were expected to battle all fall, with the Big Ten East Division title coming down to the Michigan-Ohio State game, and the winner going to the four-team national playoff.

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John U, Bacon for Friday, November 17, 2016

Well, the best laid-plans, and all that. After compiling an amazing 36-5 record over the past three years, the Spartans won their first two games, before losing their next seven. The wheels have all but come off in East Lansing, where they’re just playing for pride.